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West Florida Literary Federation is the oldest writers' group in Escambia County.
In 1986, the same year the U.S. Library of Congress named the first poet laureate, WFLF named its first poet laureate. The honor has been held by Adelia Rosasco-Soule, Leonard Temme, Mary Hood, Laurie O’Brien, Henry Langhorne and Juliet DeMarko. Jamey Jones is the current poet laureate.
WFLF publications, along with a special collection of works of local and regional authors and writing reference works, are housed in the Dr. Francis Patrick Cassidy Literary Resource Center. Located in the Pensacola Cultural Center, the library also serves as the office of WFLF and provides space for writing workshops. WFLF has publishes ''Emerald Coast Review'', a biannual collection of work submitted by local writers, artists and poets. ECR provides a record of the area’s literary thought over the years. The Federation newsletter, ''The Legend''''Italic text'', first compiled and edited by Ora Wills and Ellen Pepler, has continued for 25 years as an outlet for promoting and expressing literature. The current editor is Andrea Walker.
In 2008, WFLF participated in Milton’s Riverwalk Fine Arts Festival with live poetry readings by members; WFLF also partnered with Pensacola Chamber of Commerce to publish winners of the Chamber’s Military Appreciation Month student Essay Contest in Escambia County, with prize winners featured in ECR XIV. That year also marked an NEA grant to WFLF to implement The Big Read, in conjunction with Friends of the Library and Pensacola Little Theatre.
WFLF provided financial assistance in the inaugural year of the international event, 100,000 Poets for Change, assists other groups with like interests, hosts books-signings and occasionally participates in the Downtown Development Board’s Gallery Night in Pensacola.
Sources: Archives, West Florida Literary Federation. Interview Ora Wills.
